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Thursday, July 13, 2017

Tell A Vision

It's harder to discuss the Emmy nominations than the Oscars or the Tonys, because there are so many damn categories. And I've seen most of the movies around, and none of the plays, so I have complete knowledge of complete ignorance, whereas no one can keep up with all the TV shows no matter how much you watch.

But the Emmy nods were announced today, so let's look at some of them:

Nice to see Carrie Coon here, though I preferred her work in The Leftovers. A lot of big movie names here (women of a certain age apparently can get better roles on television). I was more impressed with Lange and Sarandon in Feud than Kidman and Witherspoon in Big Little Lies.

Interesting mix, though I don't know if any of them deserve it. Note most of these are not network shows--no Big Bang Theory, for example. Be interesting to see if Glover takes it--I like his show (which is as much a surreal drama as comedy at points).

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition ProgramTom Bergeron,Dancing With the StarsAnthony Bourdain,The TasteCat Deeley,So You Think You Can DanceHeidi Klum and Tim Gunn,Project RunwayJane Lynch,Hollywood Game NightRuPaul,RuPaul’s Drag Race

Don't care.

Outstanding Variety Talk SeriesFull Frontal With Samantha BeeJimmy Kimmel Live!Last Week Tonight With John OliverThe Late, Late Show With James CordenThe Late Show With Stephen ColbertReal Time with Bill Maher

Looks like they're picking on Fallon the same way they picked on Leno.

I think both Corden and Oliver have carved out their own niches and it would be fine if either get the Emmy.

They're still nominating Modern Family--it's like a reflex. But Big Bang Theory is out. Most of these are pretty good. Maybe they'll go for the new and shiny Atlanta, though Silicon Valley, even not quite a full strength, is still pretty good, and Kimmy Schmidt is for those who miss 30 Rock.

Outstanding Drama Series

Better Call Saul

House of Cards

The Handmaid’s Tale

The Crown

This Is Us

Stranger Things

Westworld

A bunch of new, still-trending names here, like This Is Us, Stranger Things, Westworld (undeservedly) and The Handmaid's Tale. Maybe the most interesting contest. I hope the winner won't feel the need to make a political speech (I hope this everywhere, though this category seems likely to bring it out).

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher,Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Ty Burrell,Modern Family

Tituss Burgess,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Tony Hale,Veep

Louie Anderson,Baskets

Alec Baldwin,SNL

Brian Tyree Henry,Atlanta

T.J. Miller,Silicon Valley

Modern Family used to get three of these. I don't think Anderson deserves it, though he's probably the favorite. T.J. Miller is fine, though hasn't Zach Woods become the guy on Silicon Valley? Baldwin's situation is odd--a continuing bit on SNL, not a sitcom. Tony Hale is always fine, as are others on Veep, but time for something new. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of the best regular sitcoms around and doesn't get enough love. If I were voting, I'd pick Brian Tyree Henry, who is reliably great on Atlanta.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Julie Bowen,Modern Family

Mayim Bialik,The Big Bang Theory

Anna Chlumsky,Veep

Gaby Hoffmann,Transparent

Jane Krakowski,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Zazie Beetz,Atlanta

Kate McKinnon,Saturday Night Live

Donna Lynne Champlin,Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Judith Light,Transparent

Rita Moreno,One Day at a Time

Just how many people are they allowed to nominate? A number of these I haven't seen, but most of them I like. Like Alec Baldwin above (who's not even a regularly member of SNL), Kate McKinnon seems to be the odd person out here. But she's been amazing and it would be great if she won.

I'd prefer Molina or Tucci for Feud. Thewlis seemed odd at first, but in the long ran, I think he gave the top performance in Fargo, and I'd vote for him.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Gerald McRaney,This Is Us

Ben Mendelsohn,Bloodline

BD Wong,Mr. Robot

Denis O’Hare,This Is Us

Brian Tyree Henry,This Is Us

Hank Azaria,Ray Donovan

Beau Bridges,Masters of Sex

A second nod to Brian Tyree Henry--quite a year for him. The three nominations for This Is Us show you the TV Academy really likes the show. Maybe McRaney, playing a different sort of role, deserves to take it. (Certainly not Bridges or Wong, who aren't even particularly good.)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel,The Handmaid’s Tale

Ann Dowd,The Leftovers

Carrie Preston,The Good Fight

Gillian Anderson,American Gods

Cicely Tyson,How to Get Away with Murder

Alison Wright,The Americans

Finally, a nomination for The Leftovers, and it's the wrong one. It wasn't even Dowd's season--that was last year in The Leftovers.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Matthew Rhys,Girls

Riz Ahmed,Girls

Dave Chappelle,Saturday Night Live

Aziz Ansari,Saturday Night Live

Lin-Manuel Miranda,Saturday Night Live

Tom Hanks,Saturday Night Live

Hugh Laurie,Veep

Peter McNicol,Veep

Jon Hamm,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

A second nod for Riz Ahmed and Aziz Ansari. Some people must be feeling really good today. Two decent performances from Veep, but where were all the regular guys in the supporting category.

Four Saturday Night Live hosts, most of whom did fine work, though Hanks should win for David S. Pumpkins alone.

Hamm was great on Kimmy Schmidt, so it would be fine if he won.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Melissa McCarthy,Saturday Night Live

Carrie Fisher,Catastrophe

Laurie Metcalf,The Big Bang Theory

Maya Rudolph,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Christine Baranski,The Big Bang Theory

Laura Dern,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Kristen Wiig,Saturday Night Live

Angela Bassett,Master of None

A bunch of double nominations here. Don't know who I'd pick. I didn't see Catastrophe, though I wouldn't be surprised if Fisher got a sentimental nod.